Economic effects of various weed control methods in potato cultivation

Summary.

The results come from field experiments carried out at the Experimental Agricultural Station Zawady in 2008-2010. The aim of the study was evaluation of profitability of various weed control methods in potato cultivation. Experiment included five weed control methods: mechanical, as well as four methods of mechanical-chemical treatments with the use of herbicides and their mixtures: Command 480 EC, Command 480 EC + Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC, Stomp 400 SC, Stomp 400 SC + Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC. The method based on the gross margin was used for the economic evaluation. Mechanical and chemical treatment with the used herbicides and their mixtures, increased yield by 39.6% as compared to the control object. The gross margin ranged from 1221.1 PLN for the control object to 8993.8 PLN for object in which weeds controlled with mixture herbicides Command 480 EC + Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC were used.